alaska purchase

English - English

Definition of alaska purchase in English English dictionary

Acquisition in 1867 by the U.S. from Russia of 586,412 sq mi (1.5 million sq km) at the northwestern tip of North America, comprising the current U.S. state of Alaska. The territory, held by Russia since 1741, was considered an economic liability, and in 1866 it was offered for sale. Pres. Andrew Johnson's secretary of state, William Seward, negotiated its purchase for $7.2 million, or about two cents per acre. Critics labeled the purchase "Seward's Folly." Congressional opposition delayed the appropriation until 1868, when extensive lobbying and bribes by the Russian minister to the U.S. secured the required votes

Hyphenation

A·las·ka pur·chase

Turkish pronunciation

ıläskı pırçıs

Pronunciation

/əˈlaskə ˈpərʧəs/ /əˈlæskə ˈpɜrʧəs/